ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Dec. 4, 2015) -- One can't mention the NCAA West Regional without bringing up one constant over the last 16 years: namely, the Coyotes and their ongoing success in postseason play.

The 22nd-ranked Coyotes found themselves victorious in a back-and-forth 3-2 victory against fifth seed Central Washington in the opening round of the regional played at Alaska-Anchorage.

CSUSB (27-5) moves on to the semifinal round also for the 16th straight season and plays top seed and host Alaska Anchorage, a 3-2 winner over eighth-seed Dixie State.

Sophomore Lauren Nicholson keyed a Coyote attack with the first 20-kill, 20-dig match this season by one of coach Kim Cherniss's stars. Nicholson tied her season-high in kills (22) and set a team-best 23 digs on the year. All-West Region OH Alexandra Torline led the Coyotes with 24 kills in the 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-9 victory over the Wildcats (20-8).

Four Coyotes had double figure dig matches with senior libero Kaitlyn Christner (16), senior Ashley Solis (14) and Torline (13) adding to the dig fest keyed by Nicholson.

The Coyotes took control in the opener, never trailing in the set. Torline fired off six kills and Nicholson added four as CSUSB hit .405 with just three attack errors.

It appeared the Coyotes would take a 2-0 lead after they led 23-19, but CWU showed why it earned a postseason berth. The Wildcats rallied with six straight points to even the match at 1-set apiece.

Tied at 20-20 in the third, a kill from Torline and service ace from Malika O'Brien gave the Coyotes a two-point advantage. CWU got a point back on a kill, but gave sideout back to CSUSB on a service error.

That's when the blocking crew of Nicholson, All-American Brenna McIntosh and Torline, who all got credit for a block assist. Then Torline and McIntosh teamed for another and the Coyotes had set three (25-21) and a 2-1 lead.

McIntosh, who was playing in her first match since sustaining a leg injury in late October, finished with seven kills and led CSUSB with five block assists.

Torline fired off seven kills in the fourth and Nicholson added five in which CSUSB led 24-21, before CWU answered back for the 27-25 win that forced a fifth set.

But this was a night that belonged to the Coyotes, who would not be denied in the fifth. They raced to a 5-0 lead and did not let the Wildcats get any closer than four points of the lead.

West Region Freshman of the Year setter Jayann DeHoog was stupendous, setting up 62 assists wtih seven digs.

O'Brien had 12 kills with a team-high three service aces, one solo block and one assist. Solis kicked in five kills, and always-steady Abbey Vollkommer had a pair of service aces.